Excerpt
Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and his anointed . . . .
Psalm 2:1-2

Click here to read all of Psalm 2

Prayer
Why, indeed, Lord? Why do nations and leaders rebel against You? Why do we so resist Your sovereignty? Why do we try to run our own lives, believing that we know better than You do? Why do we disobey Your will, or try to bend it to fit our personal preferences? Why do those of us who call You Lord fail to submit our lives to You? Why do we so often dishonor You in the way we live?

Why? Because sin claims our hearts. Because we reject our deepest created instinct, choosing instead to pretend as if we are gods. Because we seek wealth, power, security, and pleasure before we seek Your kingdom and righteousness.
Help our “kings,” the leaders of the nations, to submit to You, Lord. Help them to seek Your ways and to walk in them. Give them a passion for Your peace and justice.
And may the same be true for me in my small corner of this world. May I stop conspiring against You, and start offering myself fully to You in all things. May I live in a way that honors You in all I say and do.
Postscript
In the original setting of Psalm 2, the “anointed” of God is the human king of Israel. Christian readers see in this psalm something more . . . a sign pointing ahead to the coming of the Anointed One known to us as Christ (from the Greek word christos, which means “anointed one”).

Kings Canyon National Park in California at sunset